Utah for Congo is here to help you plan successful events that will generate discussion and action on your college campuses. We can visit your campus to give a presentation about the Congo crisis (or, if the scheduling is difficult, possibly join you via skype). Although you would be responsible for organizing and publicizing the events, Utah for Congo can offer logistical support and assistance along the way. Missy was the founder of the UNICEF student group at BYU and has lots of experience organizing on-campus events and community fundraisers.
Here are some suggested events that your student group could plan:
- A film screening. ("Crisis in the Congo," a short film from Friends of the Congo, can be downloaded and screened for free, or Utah for Congo can provide you with other film suggestions.)
- A presentation or academic panel discussion. Consider hosting faculty members at your campus who have expertise in Central Africa, gender issues, sexual violence, peace and conflict studies, or international development issues.
- Tabling and passing out information. We can provide you with flyers and literature that you can use to educate your university community about the crisis and their connection to it.
- A fundraising event. You could raise money for Friends of the Congo, or we can also suggest a number of organizations that are working in DR Congo if you have a specific area or concern that you'd like to raise funds for. You could plan a benefit concert, a dinner party, a hunger banquet, an art exhibit, a bake sale, or any other fundraiser that you can imagine! We're happy to provide ideas and logistical support if you decide to go this route.
- A local service project. Are there groups in your community that serve refugees, survivors of sexual trauma, or survivors of war and armed conflict? (We bet there are. If you don't know, we can help you find out.) Why not contact them to find out what their needs are?
- The Cell Out, an organized period where participants turn off their cell phones as an awareness-raising tactic (see here for details).
- Operation Recycle, where you collect old cell phones for recycling.
Check out the Organizers' Tool Kit from Friends of the Congo for more ideas and resources.
So far we are working with the STAND student group at Weber State, and we'd love to see events happening on college campuses across Utah. Contact us at utahforcongo@gmail.com to let us know about your vision for Congo Week at your school, and we'll help however we can. We'd also love to publicize your events on our blog and facebook page,
You'll need to get your group together and start planning soon, so don't delay! Let's break the silence and stoke the activist spirit in Utah. E-mail us today!
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